Driver killed in Robbinsville turnpike crash

Officials inspect an Intersate 195 overpass over the New Jersey Turnpike near a wrecked and burned truck Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Robbinsville, N.J. One person is dead in a fiery accident that’s closed a major portion of the New Jersey Turnpike in Mercer County and may be threatening an overpass. State Police Sgt. Adam Grossman says a dump truck overturned and burst into flames near Interchange 7A, killing the driver.(AP Photo/Mel Evans)

ROBBINSVILLE — A fatal traffic accident and fire Wednesday morning have tied up traffic throughout the day in Mercer County and beyond.

Police said a dump truck crashed while traveling on the turnpike after Interchange 7A, and caught on fire. The driver of the truck, the only vehicle involved, died, police said. Police said the driver was a 49-year-old man from Belleville but have not released the driver’s name yet, pending a medical exam.

Hamilton police said much of the traffic had been diverted to Routes 33, 130 and other surrounding roads in Robbinsville, Hamilton and Allentown, causing widespread backups.

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Joy Tozzi, business administrator for Robbinsville, said the township had received help from the county and state in dealing with the increased traffic. She said the traffic let up somewhat when eastbound I-195 and northbound I-95 lanes reopened.

“It’s been nonstop traffic and it has been pretty congested,” she said. “I haven’t ever seen a backup like this in this area.”

Julie Willmot, spokeswoman for Mercer County, said the county had pitched in, along with local municipalities, in dealing with the traffic spilling out into Robbinsville.

Several local school districts, including Hamilton and Robbinsville districts, sent out notices to parents that some students could be late as a result of the traffic.

Hamilton Township Superintendent James Parla said the delays could affect some, but not all, bus routes.

Several residents expressed their frustration with traffic through Facebook. Krystle Beth, a Robbinsville native, said she took a convoluted route to get through.

“I go to get on 130 south to get on 195 on exit 5 but 130 is so backed up I can’t even make the turn. Instead I got on 130 north and took 33 all the way to work. Arrived twenty minutes late. Which is pretty amazing considering everything,” she said.

Point Pleasant resident Karen Francess Hilling had an easier time.

“Just got home via I-195 East from Trenton to Point Pleasant. Smooth sailing. I think everyone thought it was closed,” she said.

The dump truck crashed under the 195 overpass just before 10 a.m. Wednesday and caught fire.

Thomas Feeney, spokesman for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, said engineers had inspected the overpass to determine if there was any damage, and the southbound lanes of the turnpike would be closed for several more hours.

Eastbound traffic on 195 resumed around 2 p.m. Wednesday, and westbound traffic was diverted at exit 7, Grossman said. Feeney said Northbound I-95 lanes reopened an hour later, as well as one southbound lane.